Compensating and retrieving means for printing-machines.



R. T. JOHNSTON. I GOMPENSATING AND RETRIEVING MEANS FOR PRINTINGMACHINES.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Y APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1908. 1yg978e /%&/(z@55@ R. T. JOHNSTON.

GOMPENSATING AND RETRIEVING MEANS r011 PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1908.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. T. JOHNSTON. OOMPENSATING AND RETRIEVING MEANS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1908 Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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ROBERT 'Jil. JOHNSTON, OF- SGOTGH PLAINS, NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BYMESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO WOOD &. NATHAII COMZPAN-Y, OF NEW YOBIQ N. 2.,A. CORPQRATION OF NEW Y0.

COMPENSATING AND RETRIEVING S- FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

the diameter of these surfaces and at the same time retain thecontacting impression surface at a fixed diameter, as it is notdesirable of course, to reduce the diameter of the impression cylinderto correspond with any reduction in diameter of the printing surface. Itis obvious, however, that the circumferential speed must be the same forthe two surfaces. In machines used for intaglio printing, thisdifiiculty is seen particularly, because absolute designs are usuallyturned off and the surface prepared for a new design. In an applicationfor patent on a relief and intaglio printing press filed by Henry A.Wise Wood, December 22, 1906, Serial No. 349,717, means is shown wherebyin order to do this a yielding compensating arrangement is provided todrive the printing and impression surfaces uniformly when they aretogether for printing and to retrieve or bring the surfaces-back intotheir original registration while the surfaces are travelingafter theprinting op-- eration is completed. It will be obvious that in machineswhere the printing and impression cylinder make .a single revolution,the retrieving has to be done in the margins, but when the printingcylinder makes one or more revolutions in addition to each printingrevolution during a single revolution of the impression cylinder, theretrieving time equals the time of the idle revolution or revolutions ofthe printing cylinder. I

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide animproved positive compensating and retrieving means and to constructthesame in a practicable and efi cient form so that it can be adjustedproperly and easily whenever the diameter of the printing surface isvaried, in- Order to produce the desired change of speed forcompensating for thechanged diameter and Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. Q, 1913.

Application filed'February 10, 1908. Serial Ho. 415,143.-

inorder to bring the shell back into original registration or retrieveit in a smooth manher; also to provide such a means which can be appliedto various types of printing machines. This is accomplished byintroducmg between the printing cylinder or shell and its drivingmechanism a compensating means which permits the shafts of the priningcylinder and impression cylinder to be set varying distances apartwithout disturbing the position of the centers of their drivingmechanisms and providing means foralternately accelerating and retardingthe speed of one of said cylinders to compensate andretrieve in themanner above indicated. I

. Reference-is to be had to the accompanying drawings which show theinvention as applied to a two-revolution intaglio printing press and inwhich,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of such a press showing one formof the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion thereof.Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. i is a diagrammatic viewsimilar to Fig. 1 showing the parts'as adjusted for compensation. Fig. 51s aperspective view of the universal plate shown in the first twofigures. Fig. 6 is'a diagrammatic view showing another way in which thisinvention may be carried out. Fig. 7 is an end view thereof. Fig. 8 is apartially diagrammatic side view of another form of the invention, andFig. 9 is an end view of the same.

Referring first to the first five figures, it will be seen that theinvention is shown as applied to a two revolution press 10 having adriving shaft-11 on which is a driving pinion 12 meshing with animpression cylinder gear 13 which is connected with the impressioncylinder 14 to operate the latter, in awell known way. The impressioncylinder shaft 15 is shown as provided with the usual delivery cylindergear 16 which operates the delivery cylinder 17-. The machine is alsoshown as provided with other usual mechanism ordinarily employed inpresses of this character, including the fly 18, grippers andithe like.The impression cylinder gear 13 meshes with and drives a gear 20corresponding to the usual printing roll gear. In this form of theinvention, this gear is not fixed to the-printing roll shaft 50 crankmotlon.

but is shown as meshing with a, gear 21 to which is fixed a gear 22mounted to turnon a stud'23 supported by a link 24 supported from abracket 25 on the frame. Thus theyswing about the axis of the gear 20 asa center so as to constitute, in effect, planetary gearing. A gear 26 ismounted to mesh with the gear 22 so that the motion of rotation isimparted to the gear 26 in the proper ratio former is reduced indiameter, it is driven from the gear 26 by means of a universal plate 30which is provided -with means whereby it may receive ower from the gear26 and transmit it to t e cylinder 27 even .when they are eccentricallyplaced and drive the cylinder uniformly. This comprises projecting ribs31 and 32 on opposite sides, preferably located substantially at rightangles. One rib 31 is adapted to enter a slot 33 in the gear 26 and theother rib 32 enters a slot 34 in a hub 35 fixed on the printing rollshaft 36. Thisuniversal plate allows the printing roll to be moved outof alinement with its driving gear 26 without affecting the speed andpermits the necessary adjustment, which is eflected by adjusting screws37 or the like, operated by nuts 38 to. adjust the bearings 39, of theshaft 36. Now, in order to provide for the compensating and retrievingmotions which have been described above, the shaft of the impressioncylinder is provided'with a cam 40, which is shown as having twosurfaces, 41 and 42, the first for compensating and the other forretrieving. In order'that the acceleration may be uniform throughout ahalf rotation 'of the impression cylinder and a complete rotation ofthe' printing cylinder, the surface 41 is madeain the-form of a simplespiral. In order that the return or retrieving motion may be as smoothas possible, the surface 42 is preferably developed on a Now, in'orderto transmit the necessary motions to the printing roll, a cam lever'50is employed pivoted on a stud 51-and having a roller 52. A spring 53 isshown for holding'the roller against the surfaces of the cam 40. Thiscam lever is indicated in Fig. 3 as of a U-shape at the bottom so thatan adjusting slot 54 with which it is provided may be extended into" avposition concentric with the stud on which it is pivoted. In this slotis adjustably mounted a pin 55 which is fixed to the end,

of a link 56 and is adapted to b e moved along the slot and fixed in anydesired position therealong. The other end of the I i,7e

link" 56 is connected with the stud 23. From this construction, it willbe seen that the rotation of the impression cylinder will have 'noeffect on the link 56 when the pin 55 is ratelyadjusted outwardly fromthe axis of the stud 51 so that the complete rotation of the impressioncylinder will cause the .roller 52 tomove outwardly in a uniform mannerduring the first half of the revolution and then move inwardly smoothlyto bring it back to its ordinary starting position, which is at thepoint 58 on the gear. The effect of this motion is to swing the stud 23and the gears 21 and 22 which are carried thereby. Now, the effect ofthis motion of these 'ears will be obvious when it isconsidered that thegear 20 with which the gear 21 meshes is positively'driven by the gear13 at a constant rate of speed. The

result is that the gear 22 will move along the gear 26 and vary thespeed thereof in the manner of planetary gearing. As the motion of theroll 52 is uniform during the printing revolution of the printingcylinder, the acceleration of the speed of the gear 26 is uniformthroughout-that revolution and consequently by proper proportioning andadjustment of the parts, it can be made to compensate exactly for thereduced diameter of the printing surface so as to cause thecircumferential speeds of the impression cylinder and printing surfaceto be the same throughout the printing revolution. But when the printingrevolution is completed,

the roll drops backtoward the center durthe impression-cylinder, theparts will be in their normal position and the action willthen berepeated. Obviously, the adjustment of the pin 55 depends on the amoum.of reduction of the diameter of the printing surface and if desired, thelei/er 50 may be provided with a scale 59 registering with a mark on thelink 56 to indicate the position in which'the latter is to be placed forany particular diameter of the printing roll. On account of' theuniversal plate and-its connections, the driving of the printingcylinder will be accomplished in an exact and uniform manner even whenit is ofi' center, as has previously been stated. It will be seen thatthis constitutes an ad ustable device whereby the speed of the printingroll during the printing operation thereof may be uniformly varied tocompensate for the change in diameter from the standard, and meanswhereby the parts will be returned to registering position during thenon-printing motion of the printing roll.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown a form of the invention in which theplanetary gearing connecting the printing roll with the impressioncylinder gear is of the bevel gear type. That is, the gear 20 isconnected with a bevel gear to turn therewith. This drives a bevel gear61 through a bevel pinion 62. The gear 61 is shown connected with auniversal plate 30 in the same manner as described above. The bevelpinion 62 may be moved back and forth by the link 56 in the same manneras above and with the same effect, means, as a hanger 63, being providedfor keeping the inion in position. It is to be observed t at thecompensating movement given to the printing roll is double that of theconnecting link 56.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is indicated a form of the invention in which theimpression and printing cylinders are driven through worm wheels 64. and65 operated by worms 66 and 67 one of which is left-handed, and one ofwhich is slidably mounted on a driving shaft 68 so as to be turnedthereby. One of the worms as 67 is moved along the shaft by a link 7 0connected with a lever 71 similar to the lever 50. The sliding worm 67is mounted in a sliding bracket 72 between bearings 73', the bracketbeing connected with the cam motion preferably in the same way as aboveby the link and lever 71. The endwise motion of this worm causes it tooperate like a rack through which any additional or reverse movement canbe imparted to the impression or printing cylinder. The rest of themechanism has not been shown as it maybe similar -to that abovedescribed.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described certain forms of the inventionin which it is applied to a two-revolution press, and while I have showncertain preferred embodiments thereof, I am aware that the same may beapplied to other styles of presses and that it may be carried out inmany other ways without departing from the scope of the invention asexpressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to theparticular type of press or forms of construction described, but

\Vhat I do claim is 1. In a printing machine, the combination of animpression member, a rotary printing member, means for moving thecontacting surfaces of said members at the same speed,

comprising planetary gearing constructed and adapted to vary therelative surface speeds of said members positively and automatically butuniformly throughout a complete revolution to compensate for anyvariation from the normal in the. size of the printing member.

2. In a printing machine of the tworevolution type, the combination ofan impression cylinder, a printing cylinder and means for rotating theprinting cylinder a plurality of times during a single rotation of theimpression cylinder and constantly at the same circumferential speed,comprising adjustable means for varying the relative speeds of saidmember automatically and positively to compensate throughout a completerevolution for any variation from the normal in the size of the printingcylinders.

3. In a printing machine, the combination of an impression cylinder, aprinting cylinder or shell, and means connecting said cylinders forpositively and uniformly varying the speed of one of them and retrievingthe same during the time of impression.

4:. In a printing machine, the combination of an impression cylinder, aprinting cylinder, and means operated by one of said cylinders forpositively rotating the other cylinder during the entire revolutionthereof, and for moving it circumferentially for bringing the twocylinders into proper registration once during each revolution of theimpression cylinder.

5. In a printing machine, the combination of an impression cylinder, anda printing cylinder with positive means connected with one of saidcylinders for rotating the other cylinder throughout a revolution, andbring ing it into proper registration therewith once during eachrevolution of the impression cylinder.

6. In a printing machine, the combination of an impression cylinder, anda printing cylinder of less diameter than the impression cylinder, ofmeans operatively connected with the impression cylinder for varying thecircumferential speed of the printing cylinder and for bringing saidprinting cylinder into proper registration with the impression cylinderonce during a number of revolutions of the printing cylinder equal tothe number ofv times the impression cylinder exceeds the printingcylinder in diameter.

7. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing couple, ofadjustablemeans connected with one member thereof for varying thesurface speed of the other member of the couple and retrieving the sameduring the time of impression.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing couple, ofadjustable means for varying the relative circumferential speeds of thetwov members of the couple uniformly during a complete revolution of theprinting cylinder of the couple, and for restoring them to registrationduring the next revolution of the printing'cylinder.

' 9. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing couple, ofadjustable means for varying the relative circumferential speeds of thetwo members thereof uniformly during a complete revolution of theprinting cylinder of the couple, and for restoring the printing cylinderto registration with the impression cylinder during the next revolutionof the printing cylinder.

10. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing couple,comprising an impression and a printing cylinder, of a cam having a partof its surface developed on a spiral and a part of its surface developedon a crank motion, and means controlled by said cam for varying therelative speed of said cylinders during the printing operation, and forvarying the relative speedof said cylinders in the opposite directionduringthe non-printing operation of the couple, said means beingcontrolled by the spiral part of the cam during the printingoperation-and by the crank motion part during the non-printing part.

11. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing couple,comprising an impression and a printing cylinder, of a cam mounted torotate with one of said cylinders, a U-shaped lever mounted to swing onan axis and controlled by said cam, means in the center of the lever foradjusting it, and means connected with said lever for uniformly varyingthe speed of one of said cylinders during the printing operation, andfor varying the speed of said cylinder in the opposite direction duringthe non-printing operation of the couple to bring said cylinders backinto their original registration.

12. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing couple,comprising an impression anda printing cylinder, of a pivoted lever,means connected with one of said cylinders for swinging said leverduring the rotation of said cylinders, a link adjustably connected withsaid .lever, and means operated by said link for controlling the speedof the other cylinder.

13. Ina printing machine, the combination with aprinting couple,comprising an impression and a printing cylinder, of a link, meansconnected with one cylinder for controlling the operation of said link,and

means. connected with said link and controlled thereby for varying thespeed of the other cyli'nde 14. In a printing machine, the combinationof an impression cylinder, a printing cylinder, a driving shaft, meansconnected with said shaft for driving the printing cylinder comprisingplanetary gearing, and means connected with the impression cylinder forcontrolling the operation of said planetary gearing to vary the speed ofthe printing cylinder. 1

15. In a printing machine, the combination of an impression cylinder, aprinting cylinder, a driving shaft, means connected with said shaft andcomprising planetary gearing for driving the printing cylinder normallyat the same circumferential speed at which the impression cylinder isdriven, and adjustable means connected with the impression cylinder forcontrolling the operation of said planetary gearing to vary the speed ofthe printing cylinder, whereby the speed of the printing cylinder may bevaried to compensate for any variation in its diameter.

16. In a printing machine, the combination of an impression cylinder, aprinting cylinder, means for driving the impression cylinder comprisinga gear, a gear meshing With said impression cylinder gear, a second gearmounted on the same axis as the last named gear and rotatableindependently thereof, planetary gearing connecting the cylinder, meansfor driving the impression cylinder comprising a gear, a gear meshingwith said impression cylinder gear, a second gear rotatableindependently of the impression cylinder gear, planetary gearingconmeeting said gears, means controlled by the impression cylinder foroperating said planetary; gearing to vary the speed ofthe second gearduring its rotation, and means for 4 connecting said second gear withthe prints ing cylinder, said means comprising a uni versal plateadapted to transmit a uniform motion of rotation to the printingcylinder in all positions thereof.

18. In a printing machine, the combination of a printing cylinder orroll, an im pression cylinder, said printing cylinder being adjustabletoward and from the impression cylinder, gearing for rotating theprinting cylinder comprising two rotary members substantially in axialalinement, and means for transmitting a motion of rotation through saidrotary members from the first named means to the printing cylinderindependently of the position of the latter.

19. In a printing machine, the combination of a cylinder, means forbodily adjusting the same laterally, rotary means for 1,080,978 I i idriving said cylinder comprising two rotary members substantially inaxial alinement,

and a universal plate between said rotary members and directly connectedwith both for transmitting a motion of rotation from said means to thecylinder even when said cylinder is adjusted to a position eccentricwith respect to said rotarymeans.

20. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, a cylinder, abearing for said cylinder, means for adjusting said bearing on theframeand supporting it in adjusted positions, a stud supported from saidframe, a gear on the stud, and a rotatable plate substantially in axialalinement with said gear for transmitting a uniform motion of rotationfrom the gear to the cylinder.

21. In a printing machine, the combination of a frame, a cylinder, abearing for said cylinder,'means for adjusting said bearing on the frameand su porting it in. adjusted positions, means or transmitting auniform motion of rotation to the cylinder comprising two rotary memberssubstantially in axial alinement, and adjustable means for varying thespeed of said ciylinder during-g, complete revolution thereo 22. aprinting machine, the combination of a cylinder, a bearing for saidcylinder, means for adjusting said bearing and supporting it in adjustedpositions, a gear and means for transmitting a uniform mo tion ofrotation from the gear to the cylinder comprising two rotary memberssubstantially in axial alinement, said means being connected with saidgear and operating to vary the speed thereof.

23. In a printing machine, the combination of a stud, a gear mounted torotate thereon and having a hub provided with a central groove, acylinder having a shaft substantially in axial alinement with said gear,means for adjusting said shaft transversely, a head connected with theshaft and provided with a groove in the face thereof, and a universalplate between the hub on the gear and the head of said proj eocylindermay be rotated at a uniform speed from said gear even when adjusted to aposition eccentric with respect thereto, and means for varying the speedof said gear.

25. In a printin machine, the combination of a rotary hu ,an adjustablymounted printing cylinder having a shaft substantiall in axial alinementwith saidhub, a hea connectedwith said shaft and a universal platebetween said head and hub substantially in alinement with said shaft andhub, said plate having provisions. on its opposite faces engagingtransmitting a motion of rotation from the hub to the head.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand,=i n the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT T JOHNsTON. Witnesses:

Armin B. WALTERS, Gno. E. MoConn.

on .the shaft having projections on its opposite sides located at anangle to each other, each 'tions beingadapted to enter one of ,said.

the head and hub. and located at an angle to each other, for

